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Wilmington CrossFit team to face best in world

Amanda Welliver carries a yoke 400 meters while training at CrossFit Wilmington recently. Welliver is one of eight people from CrossFit Wilmington who will compete in the Reebok CrossFit Games in California later this month.

Published: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 9:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 9:33 p.m.

This is a corrected version of the story. In the original, the date of a fundraiser later this month was incorrect.

Eight members of a local gym will participate in the Reebok CrossFit Games July 23-28 in Los Angeles.

They belong to CrossFit Wilmington, which says it is the only gym in the state with a team in the world fitness competition. The team qualified by finishing third in the 30-team Mid-Atlantic Regional in Largo, Md.

Husband and wife Joe and Amanda Welliver, former college athletes, are on the team.

“I was looking for something to do competitively since college,'' Joe Welliver said. “Amanda discovered CrossFit, and she had a knack for it. I didn't have a knack toward it, but still Amanda really shines at it. It was just something fun we started doing on the weekends.''

Amanda Hodge, Melissa Hoff, Cody Lambert and William Hall are the other team members. Marcie Wells and Lidia Beer also qualified as individuals in the 40-44 and 55-59 masters age-group divisions, respectively.

Hall, a Marine, fractured his right humerus bone in December. The team thought the injury would sideline him at least one year, but Lambert cites Hall's determination and being a quick healer for the speedy recovery.

Wells started CrossFit training three years ago, and it did not take her long to get hooked.

With a current world ranking of 4, she has come a long way.

Hodge, a Marine recruiting officer, joined CrossFit 3½ years ago.

She admits having an addictive personality, and the sport only fuels her craving. “I am a passionate person,'' she said. “Things I feel strongly about I tend to go overboard, which sometimes gets me into trouble by overtraining.''

CrossFit is a high-intensity workout. She acknowledges doing it several days in a row wears on the body, plus she suffers from autoimmune disease, which attacks healthy cells by mistake.

According to Tony Cowden, owner of CrossFit Wilmington, CrossFit combines track and field, gymnastics, power lifting and endurance running.

“You are trying to master so many different sports and their skill sets,'' Cowden said. “It is not like you can do one sport a day, but a combination of each. It goes against a lot of the common methodology. You focus on being this well-rounded athlete. If you have a weakness in the included sports, you will fail.''

Cowden is the coach and Lambert is the CrossFit Wilmington assistant general manager and strength and conditioning coach.

Lambert started doing CrossFit in January 2008, and it quickly became his hobby. He started entering local competitions two years ago and has made major strides.

“What people don't realize about the average fitness buff versus this team or individuals is that our athletes have been eating so healthy for the last 10 months,'' Cowden said. “It is not just that they want to, but it is a deal they make with me. I take it very seriously. They cannot even take a sip of alcohol.''

The team has to raise an estimated $10,000 to participate in the world games. They have set up two fundraisers, the biggest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 13 at CrossFit Wilmington on Capital Drive in the Murrayville Station Business Park. The fundraiser includes a buffet, raffles, competitions and workouts for people of all ages.

The other fundraiser is 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at 22 North restaurant on North Lumina Avenue on Wrightsville Beach. The restaurant will donate 15 percent of sales for the trip.

<p class="bold allcaps">This is a corrected version of the story. In the original, the date of a fundraiser later this month was incorrect.</p>
<p>Eight members of a local gym will participate in the Reebok CrossFit Games July 23-28 in Los Angeles.</p><p>They belong to CrossFit Wilmington, which says it is the only gym in the state with a team in the world fitness competition. The team qualified by finishing third in the 30-team Mid-Atlantic Regional in Largo, Md.</p><p>Husband and wife Joe and Amanda Welliver, former college athletes, are on the team.</p><p>“I was looking for something to do competitively since college,'' Joe Welliver said. “Amanda discovered CrossFit, and she had a knack for it. I didn't have a knack toward it, but still Amanda really shines at it. It was just something fun we started doing on the weekends.''</p><p>Amanda Hodge, Melissa Hoff, Cody Lambert and William Hall are the other team members. Marcie Wells and Lidia Beer also qualified as individuals in the 40-44 and 55-59 masters age-group divisions, respectively.</p><p>Hall, a Marine, fractured his right humerus bone in December. The team thought the injury would sideline him at least one year, but Lambert cites Hall's determination and being a quick healer for the speedy recovery.</p><p>Wells started CrossFit training three years ago, and it did not take her long to get hooked.</p><p>With a current world ranking of 4, she has come a long way.</p><p>Hodge, a Marine recruiting officer, joined CrossFit 3½ years ago.</p><p>She admits having an addictive personality, and the sport only fuels her craving. “I am a passionate person,'' she said. “Things I feel strongly about I tend to go overboard, which sometimes gets me into trouble by overtraining.''</p><p>CrossFit is a high-intensity workout. She acknowledges doing it several days in a row wears on the body, plus she suffers from autoimmune disease, which attacks healthy cells by mistake.</p><p>According to Tony Cowden, owner of CrossFit Wilmington, CrossFit combines track and field, gymnastics, power lifting and endurance running.</p><p>“You are trying to master so many different sports and their skill sets,'' Cowden said. “It is not like you can do one sport a day, but a combination of each. It goes against a lot of the common methodology. You focus on being this well-rounded athlete. If you have a weakness in the included sports, you will fail.''</p><p>Cowden is the coach and Lambert is the CrossFit Wilmington assistant general manager and strength and conditioning coach.</p><p>Lambert started doing CrossFit in January 2008, and it quickly became his hobby. He started entering local competitions two years ago and has made major strides.</p><p>“What people don't realize about the average fitness buff versus this team or individuals is that our athletes have been eating so healthy for the last 10 months,'' Cowden said. “It is not just that they want to, but it is a deal they make with me. I take it very seriously. They cannot even take a sip of alcohol.''</p><p>The team has to raise an estimated $10,000 to participate in the world games. They have set up two fundraisers, the biggest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 13 at CrossFit Wilmington on Capital Drive in the Murrayville Station Business Park. The fundraiser includes a buffet, raffles, competitions and workouts for people of all ages. </p><p>The other fundraiser is 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at 22 North restaurant on North Lumina Avenue on Wrightsville Beach. The restaurant will donate 15 percent of sales for the trip.</p>